he didn’t want to involve his sister or the young Irishman, he trusted Giulia and Danny trusted Liam. More importantly, they gave a damn about Danny. Like it or not, he needed them.
With a resigned sigh, he said, “Actually, I think we can use you this time.”
Giulia straightened as if she hadn’t expected him to agree. “You…really?”
Carmine nodded, glancing past her. Then he beckoned her and Liam closer, and he put a hand on her shoulder. “Listen carefully. This is what I need you to do…”
Chapter 37
The man to Danny’s right had holstered his gun between them.
As the driver took them all uptown, Danny could feel the bulk of the weapon nudging at his hip. His hands were bound in front of him, but more and more, he was sure that if he could twist just so, he could grab the pistol.
Question was, could he do it fast enough to shoot both of the men back here? And either shoot the driver or compel him to stop?
At first, the plan seemed reckless and dangerous.
More and more, though, especially with each cross street they passed, it seemed like his only escape. At any moment, the car could pull into an alley or a warehouse, and his opportunity would be lost. The worst that could happen was he died trying to escape. At least then he’d spare himself whatever torture il Sacchi had in store for him.
This means killing someone.
Lord, help me, I don’t want to kill no one.
But what choice did he have? These men were taking him to his death as sure as anything. And they’d already killed James.
He ground his teeth, anger taking over for preemptive guilt. He was no murderer, and he wasn’t a vengeful man, but these men had threatened his family and murdered his longtime friend. They’d murdered a priest.
It’s them or me. Haven’t they killed enough?
The driver turned down a street that wasn’t so busy and didn’t have so many people walking alongside it. Fewer witnesses. Not a cop in sight.
Blood pounded in his ears. This was his chance. Quite possibly his last one.
He opened and closed his fingers, shifting a little as if he were trying to get comfortable when he was really just seeing how flexible the bindings were. It was coarse rope that bit into his skin, but it was loose enough to let him maneuver his wrists a little.
He made himself breathe slowly and evenly. He knew the men in the car couldn’t hear his heart thumping, but that didn’t stop him from being irrationally certain they could.
What are you waiting for? Do it already!
One…
Two…
Three!
He twisted to his right and seized the revolver in both hands. That wise guy elbowed him hard in the throat, stunning him briefly, but Danny still squeezed off a shot with the muzzle jammed up against the man’s side. The sound nearly deafened him, though he definitely heard the pained cry.
The other man slung an arm around Danny’s neck, but Danny was faster. He wriggled free, slammed himself against the wounded man, and fired. The car swerved. There were shouts. Groans. Glass splintered. Another gun clattered to the floorboards. Someone reached for it. Danny stepped hard on the man’s hand, and he fired again.
The driver was shouting. Danny couldn’t hear him, but he could sense the panic, especially as the car swerved from side to side. The wise guy whose gun Danny had taken—he was dead or close to it, slumping to the side as blood pooled on the seat beside him. The other was weakening fast, still fighting Danny in the tight confines for one of the guns.
One more shot, and both of the men in the backseat with him were still.
Danny quickly grabbed the second gun, and he spun on the driver. “Take me back where you found me. Now.”
The car had stopped. Danny wasn’t sure when, only that they weren’t moving now and the car was at an odd angle, partway on the deserted sidewalk. The driver’s hands were up, and he stared at Danny in the mirror.
“I mean it.” Danny pulled back the hammer. “Take me back. Now.”
The driver’s eyes narrowed. “You kill me while I’m driving, you’re dead too.”
“And if you just drive, then nobody’s dead.” He paused, gesturing beside him. “Nobody else is dead.”
The driver gulped. Slowly, he lowered his hands to the wheel. “All right. All right. Just don’t shoot me.”
“Then drive.”
The man drove.
Danny tried hard not to throw up from fear, not to mention horror at the carnage